Construction material composition and method of forming construction materials utilizing rice hulls

ABSTRACT

Provided are a structure and a method of forming a structure that includes a core made, at least in part, of a rice hull composition. The rice hull composition including a combination of separate, unground rice hulls; ground rice hulls; and a rice hull powder, that each have a different particle size. A polymeric binder, such as a recycled plastic polymeric binder binds the separated unground rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder together.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/602,202, filed Jan. 21, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,937,642, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/929,565, filed Jan. 21, 2014, both of which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This application relates generally to a method and apparatus involving rice hulls and, more specifically, to construction panels and other materials formed at least in part of rice hulls and a method of manufacturing construction panels and other materials.

2. Description of Related Art

It is estimated that millions of tons of rice hulls are generated as a byproduct of processing rough rice for consumption throughout the world. These rice hulls are made of materials that are very durable and can be difficult to recycle or otherwise dispose of. As a result, rice processors are often willing to give the rice halls to anyone willing to take them free of charge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the subject application involves method of forming a structure including rice hulls. The method includes combining separated rice hulls, ground rice hulls and a rice hull powder that each have a different average particle size. A binder is used to bind the separated rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder together to form a rice hull composition. The binder includes a polymeric binder, preferably a recycled plastic polymeric binder. The rice hull composition is introduced to an extruder to form a rice hull extrudate. The extruder is pre-heated to a temperature from about 270° F. to about 450° F. The precise preheat temperature, which is the same or different than the working temperature, will vary depending on the binder to be used. For example, the preferred extruder temperature when employing a polypropylene binder is about 425° F. A composition employing a polyethylene terephthalate binder would be less than that of polypropylene. The rice hull extrudate can be molded into a desired shape by pressing the rice hull extrudate into a mold having a cavity that defines a desired shape of the structure to be produced or by spreading the rice hull extrudate on a conveyor belt with applied pressure. After shaping, the rice hull extrudate is cooled to obtain the desired structure.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a building structure that includes a core formed, at least in part, from a rice hull composition. The rice hull composition includes a combination of separate unground rice hulls, ground rice hulls and a rice hull powder each having a different average particle size. The core also includes a polymeric binder binds the separated unground rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder together.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the systems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/or methods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative example of a door comprising a core formed from a rice hull composition;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the illustrative example of the door 14 taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a countertop comprising a core formed at least in part from a rice hull composition;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a structural insulated panel comprising a single core formed at least in part from a rice hull composition;

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a structural insulated panel comprising insulation sandwiched between opposing cores, each of which being formed at least in part from a rice hull composition;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a roof panel 26 including a plurality of stacked cores formed at least in part from the rice hull composition described herein;

FIG. 7 schematically depicts an illustrative manufacturing assembly for manufacturing the cores described herein when employing an urethane binder;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram schematically depicting a method of forming a core when employing an urethane binder;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of a hollow core comprising a plurality of air-filled apertures or pockets;

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a core molded into the shape of a building block;

FIG. 11 shows an edge-alignment feature provided to plank-shaped cores to establish proper alignment of laterally-aligned cores; and

FIG. 12 shows another alignment feature provided to plank-shaped cores to establish proper alignment of overlapping cores.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram schematically depicting another method of forming a core when employing a polymeric binder.

FIG. 14 schematically depicts an illustrative manufacturing assembly for forming the structures described herein when employing a polymeric binder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language used herein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in the drawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

It is also to be noted that the phrase “at least one of”, if used herein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of the members, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example, the phrase “at least one of a first widget and a second widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, or the first widget and the second widget. Likewise, “at least one of a first widget, a second widget and a third widget” means in the present application: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, the first widget and the second widget, the first widget and the third widget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget and the second widget and the third widget.

Mounting pressure on the construction industry to conserve products comprised of natural wood as well as the failure of traditional building materials to meet the evolving performance requirements of the market place has driven the investigation of new materials and manufacturing processes to develop such materials for use in the construction industry. The utilization of rice hulls in such construction materials offers the opportunity to recycle industrial by-product waste while providing a product such as construction panels, for example, with desirable insulating qualities, resistance to burning, ease of installation, resistance to insects, and enhanced strength relative to conventional building materials such as natural wood.

A matrix of resin, adhesives, rice hulls and optionally ground particles and/or reinforcing fibers are compression molded into a desired shape with heat to form panels having a core with desired and varying shapes, dimensions, forms and features. The resulting items created can have at least one of the following attributes; resistance to moisture, fire, insects while providing structural strength against racking and shear forces. Items also provide quality characteristics including; thermal insulation, sound deadening, strength to resist bending force and become a stable substrate to support composite coatings, veneers and integral structural members (such as wood rails and stiles). Items can be constructed to form interlocking components that form a monolithic structure such as wall sections and corners, for example. Of course any desired construction paneling or other object can be formed, including, ceiling tiles, doors, etc. . . .

FIG. 1 of the present application shows an embodiment of a door 14 comprising a core 10 (FIG. 2) formed, at least in part, from a rice hull composition. Embedded in the core 10, can optionally be one or more hardware mounting substrates 16 (shown in broken lines in FIG. 1) fabricated from wood, a synthetic plastic material, metal, or any other material with sufficient rigidity and strength to withstand the forces commonly exerted on such hardware. For example, the hardware mounting substrates 16 in FIG. 1 include a substrate arranged at a location where a door handle and/or locking mechanism is to be installed, as well as one or more substrates along the hinged side 18 of the door 14 for mounting hinge plates using threaded fasteners such as screws, for example.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the illustrative example of the door 14 taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. The door 14 includes a core 10 formed, at least in part, from a rice hull composition, optionally in combination with other building materials such as a binder, pigment or other coloring agent, and externally-exposed coating. In FIG. 2, the other building material includes a wood veneer skin 12 adhesively applied to opposite exposed surfaces of the core 10. The wood veneer thus provides the door 14 with the external appearance of wood, while the core 10 provides the door 14 with the structural properties described herein.

Although shown and described herein as a door 14 for the sake of brevity and clarity, the construction panel of the present application can be formed as any desired construction material that includes the core 10, such as a countertop 19, a cross-section of which is shown in FIG. 3. For example, rather than the wood veneer 12 shown in FIG. 2, a countertop material 20 (e.g., granite, marble, other tile, formica, Corian®, etc. . . . ), reinforcing structures, and the like can be provided to the core 10 to form an externally-exposed countertop surface.

As another example, a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the construction panel in the form of insulated wall sheathing or structural insulated panel (“SIP”) 22 utilizing the core 10 comprising the rice hull composition. As shown, the SIP 22 includes the core 10 adhered against a rigid layer of insulation 24 such as foamed polystyrene, for example. Alternate embodiments of the SIP 22 can include the The SIP 22 can be manufactured under factory controlled conditions and can be structurally configured to fit nearly any building design. Although only a single layer of the core 10 is shown in FIG. 4, other embodiments of the SIP 22 can include a second layer of the core 10 arranged on an opposite side of the insulation 24 relative to the core 10 shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the insulation 24 can optionally be sandwiched between opposing cores 10 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows another illustrative embodiment of the construction panel in the form of a roof panel 26 including a plurality of stacked cores 10 formed at least in part from the rice hull composition described herein. The stacked cores 10 are coupled together, and to an underlying frame such as a truss or floor joists, for example, by a nail 28 or other suitable mechanical fastener driven through the cores 10. A laminate, veneer 30, or other suitable coating material can optionally be applied to the externally-exposed surface of the stack of cores 10.

The core 10 described herein comprises a rice hull composition that includes a rice hull composition formed from at least one of, and optionally a combination of two or more of: separate unground rice hulls, ground rice hulls and a rice hull powder. Each of the separated unground rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder comprises a different particle size, with the unground rice hulls having the largest particle size, and the rice hull powder having the smallest particle size. The ground rice hulls, with an intermediate particle size, can optionally be ground to a 16/80 mesh or to a minus 80 mesh to obtain a powdered rice hull product. According to a specific embodiment, the rice hull composition can include at least the unground rice hulls and the ground rice hulls.

A caustic-free polyurethane resin thermosetting binder can be combined with the rice hull composition to bind the separated unground rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder together. For example, the binder can be a thermosetting material such as an aliphatic polyurethane resin, optionally with a UV resistant component added to resist discoloration as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light. The UV resistant material can also optionally protect the coloring agent against degradation by blocking at least a portion of ultraviolet light impinging on the core 10.

While urethane binders are useful and impart advantageous properties to the rice hull composition, they can also be difficult to work with. Because they are sticky, use of urethane binders generally requires inclusion of a releasing agent. They are also slow to cure and the entire composition (rice hulls and urethane) must be heated through in order to fully cure the composition. An activator can be added to the composition in order to speed up the polymerization of the binder after it is added to the rice hull mixture. In this regard, a ⅛″ thick structure might take 2 minutes to fully heat and cure; a 2″ thick structure might take 12-14 minutes to fully heat and cure. Once heated and cured, the composition must also be given adequate time to cool down. This slow production may limit the practical usefulness of the urethane binder and processes for using such in large-scale manufacturing processes.

Thus, the rice hull composition of the present disclosure can also employ other binders, such as pre-polymerized polymeric binders. Such pre-polymerized polymeric binders, also referred to herein as polymeric binders, have been polymerized prior to their addition to the rice hull composition. Therefore, the curing step required when using binders such as urethane can be avoided. Polymeric binders according to the present disclosure preferably comprise one or more types of plastics. As described in greater detail below, compositions employing a polymeric binder can be made by an extrusion process. That is, the rice hull composition and the polymeric binder can be mixed together, without the need for activators or a release agent, and put through an extruder which heats the composition comprising rice hulls and the polymeric binder as it is pushed through the mold and/or die. The result is a product that cools rapidly regardless of the thickness. For example, a ⅛″ thick structure or a 2″ thick structure might both cool in 1-3 minutes. The result is a faster process that does not depend on structure thickness, thereby improving the manufacturing process.

In one embodiment, the polymeric binder comprises polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, Teflon, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, fiber-reinforced plastic, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the polymeric binder can be obtained from recycled plastic products. In this regard, the recycled product is a waste product. That is, the use of a polymeric binder can incorporate material that would otherwise go into a landfill. This, of course, improves the environmentally friendliness of the structures described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the polymeric binder comprises recycled plastic comprising polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene or combinations thereof. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the recycled plastic comprises polypropylene. The recycled plastic material for use according to the present disclosure is preferably in the form of pellets of varying sizes resulting from any standard manufacturing process. The use of different plastic binders, alone or in combination with other plastic polymeric binders, or with other non-polymeric binders, such as urethane, also allows the manufacturer to adjust the properties of the final composition, such as the flexibility or rigidity of the final product, the strength, durability, UV absorbance or protection, and/or fire resistance of the final structure.

In addition to the rice hull composition and the binder, the material forming the core 10 can also optionally include crumb rubber, which is particular rubber derived from grinding, chopping, crushing or otherwise breaking apart recycled tires. The crumb rubber included in the material forming the core 10 can have an average particle size of approximately four one-thousandths (0.004 in.) of an inch or less.

A manufacturing assembly for manufacturing the core 10 when employing a urethane binder is schematically illustrated in FIG. 7. Raw rice hulls 32 are heated to any temperature within the range from approximately 150° F. to approximately 500° F., (e.g., 150° F. for the present embodiment), and combined with at least one of: polymeric fibers 34 such as polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), the ground rice hulls 36, the rice hull powder, the heated binder 38, a pigment 40 for providing the end product with a desired color, and optional fire and/or smoke retardant material 42. This combination can optionally be introduced to a rotary mixer 44 to promote complete coverage of all of the rice hull particulates with the binder 38. The selected components are mixed, and subsequently dispensed into the appropriate mold 46 for the panel under construction. The quantities dispensed can be specifically-measured quantities, and can optionally be included on, or surround a structural re-enforcement such as a reinforcing mesh 48 in the heated mold 46. A more detailed description of the method of forming a core 10 comprising rice hulls employing a urethane binder is described with reference to the flow diagram of FIG. 8. According to such a method, the separated rice hulls, ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder, each having a different (and progressively smaller) particle size, are combined at step S100. The combination of each type of rice hull material can take place in the mixer 44 shown in FIG. 7. The binder 38 is introduced to the mixer 44 to bind the separated rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder together to form the rice hull composition at step S110, as is the optional coloring agent at step S120. The mixture including the rice hull composition is then introduced, at step S130, to the heated mold 46 having a cavity that defines the desired shape of the structure to be produced. While in the mold 46, the rice hull mixture can be exposed to a temperature within a range from approximately two hundred (200° F.) degrees Fahrenheit to approximately two hundred eighty (280° F.) degrees Fahrenheit, and optionally within a range from approximately two hundred forty (240° F.) degrees Fahrenheit to approximately two hundred fifty (250° F.) degrees Fahrenheit. However, according to other embodiments, the rice hull composition within the mold can be heated in an environment having any temperature within a range from approximately one hundred fifty (150° F.) degrees Fahrenheit to approximately five hundred (500° F.) degrees Fahrenheit without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The rice hull mixture in the mold 46 can also be subjected to a molding pressure within a range from approximately two hundred (200 psi) pounds per square inch to approximately two thousand (2,000 psi) pounds per square inch. Exposure of the rice hull composition to the elevated temperature and pressure can continue for a time within a range from approximately two (2 min.) minutes to approximately six (6 min.) minutes, depending on the size of the core 10 being manufactured.

The heat from the mold or other heat source at step S130 initiates curing of the thermosetting binder to initially fix the shape of the rice hull composition in the shape of the mold 46. However, before the binder has fully cured, the rice hull composition is removed from the mold at step S140, to be subsequently subjected to another elevated temperature to complete curing of the binder externally of the mold 46 at step S150. Once the rice hull composition has been fully cured, the rice hull composition can be combined with an exposed surface structure such as the wood veneer or countertop surface, for example, or other material described herein at step S160. Examples of other suitable surface structure materials include, but are not limited to, at least one of: a re-enforced polyethylene terephthalate; a substantially-transparent polyurethane coating; and a waterborne acrylic urethane material.

Alternatively, a more detailed description of the method of forming a core 10 comprising rice hulls employing a polymeric binder is described with reference to the flow diagrams of FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. According to such a method, when the structure is made comprising the plastic binder 83 as set forth above, the separated (whole) rice hulls 80, ground rice hulls 81 and the rice hull powder 82, each having a different (and progressively smaller) particle size, are combined together at step S200 with the polymeric binder 83 in a dry mixer or tumble mixer 90. The unground rice hull can be present in an amount of from 1% to 98% w/w relative to the weight rice hull mixture. Likewise, the ground rice hull and powdered rice hull can also be present in an amount of from 1% to 98% w/w relative to the weight of the rice hull mixture. Preferably, in one embodiment of the composition disclosed herein, the rice hull mixture comprises from 20% to 50% w/w of each of the unground rice hull, the ground rice hull and the rice hull powder. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rice hull mixture comprises about 33% w/w of each of the unground rice hull, the ground rice hull and the rice hull powder. The polymeric binder 83 is preferably in the form of pellets resulting from any standard plastics recycling process. The amount of the binder present in the rice hull composition can vary from about 1% to about 30% w/w relative to the weight of the rice hull mixture. Preferred embodiments of the composition include from about 10% to about 25%, from about 12% to about 20% or about 15% w/w of binder relative to the weight of the rice hull mixture.

Optionally, re-enforcing fibers 34, can be added to the dry mixer 90 if desired, as can be crumb rubber, and/or fire and/or smoke retardant material, as described herein. Once a homogeneous mixture is formed, the rice hull mixture is introduced to an extruder 91 in step S210. The hot extrusion process thermomechanically transforms raw materials, such as the rice hull mixture described herein, in short time and high temperature conditions under pressure. The process forces a material though a die or an orifice to form a shape. The material is first softened (plasticization) by heating so that it can be shaped. A screw (single or twin screws) forces the material towards, and then through, a die. Shape can be imparted by the die, or by post-extrusion forming (shaping outside of the extruder prior to cooling). The product is then cooled to set the desired shape and obtain the finished product 100.

In the present method, the extruder 91 is pre-heated to a temperature of from about 270° F. to about 450° F., preferably between about 350° to about 390° F., or preferably about 425° F. After passing through the extruder 91 in step S220, a rice hull extrudate 85 comprising of the hot rice hull mixture having an oatmeal-like consistency is then molded in one of two ways.

For smaller molded items, in step S230, the hot rice hull extrudate 85 is forced into a mold form 92, preferably a metal mold form, of a desired shape. The mold form can be optionally heated to or near to the temperature of the extruder. The mold 92 can optionally include cooling channels through which cold water is passed to draw the heat from the rice hull extrudate 85 in order to cool it. The rice hull extrudate 85 in the mold 92 can be subject to an applied pressure 93 varying from between about 200 psi to about 1700 psi, depending on the requirements of the finished part 100, to ensure that the rice hull extrudate 85 fully fills the mold form 92. Once the mixture is cooled to room temperature in the mold 93 in step S240, the finished part 100 is set in its desired shape and can be removed from the mold 93 in step S250.

Alternatively, for larger molded items, a continuous forming process may be desired. In a continuous forming process, the rice hull extrudate 85 is first spread upon a bottom conveyor belt 94 at step S260, and in step S270 pressure (about 200-1700 psi) is applied from a second conveyor belt 95 above to thin the rice hull extrudate 85 to a desired average thickness, for example, of from about ⅛ of an inch to 3 inches, or from about ¼ of an inch to 2 inches, or about 7/16 of an inch. In step S280, the bottom conveyor belt 94 moves the rice hull extrudate 85 through a cooling chamber 96 to speed the cooling process. Due to the size and the mass of these larger finished products 100, such as sheets of the rice hull composition, large cores 10, or other large desired shapes, the finished part 100 must fully cool before it is removed from the system in step S290.

The resulting core 10 can possess characteristics desirable in the field of construction. For instance, a moisture test conducted on such a panel required the panel to be fully submerged in water at room temperature for four (4 mos.) months. The panel exhibited less than a five (5%) percent weight gain over the duration of the test. The weight gain was approximately four (4%) percent, by mass. The rate at which the panel gained water weight also appeared to slow over time. Of the approximately four (4%) percent weight gain realized over the four month span, the panel exhibited an approximately three (3%) percent weight gain during the first week of the test.

The core 10 formed from the rice hull composition can be formed as a solid object, or optionally as defining a plurality of air-filled apertures 50 or pockets as shown in FIG. 9. Although the apertures 50 are shown in a linear arrangement in FIG. 9, any desired pattern of apertures 50 can optionally be adopted. For example, another embodiment of the core 10 can optionally include a honeycomb arrangement of apertures 50 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Also, rather than being formed in a planar shape as a plank, the core can be molded into any desired shape. Another embodiment of the core 10 including air-filled voids is illustrated in FIG. 10, and forms a building block that can be assembled adjacent to a plurality of other such blocks to construct a foundational wall for example. As shown in FIG. 10, the core 10 includes parallel and opposing planar side walls 56 separated by air-filled apertures 50 established during the molding process. Similarly, parallel and opposing end walls 58 are integrally formed as monolithic structures with the side walls 56 on opposite longitudinal ends of the block-shaped core 10. One, or a plurality of transverse partitions 60 can be formed between the end walls 58 to establish a plurality of apertures 50.

The external surface of each core 10 within a region adjacent to one or both end walls 58 can optionally include an alignment feature 62. The alignment feature 62 of each core 10 is cooperable with a similar alignment feature provided to an abutting core arranged adjacent to the core 10 as part of an assembly. Cooperation between the alignment feature 62 can establish a substantially-linear arrangement of the abutting cores 10, or a substantially-perpendicular arrangement, for example. In the embodiment appearing in FIG. 10, the alignment feature 62 includes vertical spines 64 separated by vertical troughs 66. The spines 64 and troughs 66 on each core can be configured such that the spines 64 of a first core 10 are received in the troughs 66 of the adjacent core provided to the end wall 58 to promote a linear arrangement of those cores 10. Similarly, spines 64 and troughs 66 on each core can be configured such that the spines 64 provided to the end wall 58 of a first core are received in the troughs 66 of the adjacent core provided to the side wall 56 to promote a perpendicular arrangement of those cores 10, thereby forming a corner.

In addition to the block-shaped cores 10, the cores 10 formed as planks can also include alignment features for being joined with neighboring planks. For example, each plank formed of the rice hull composition described herein can include an overhang 70 along one longitudinal edge of the plank, as schematically shown in FIG. 11. For the plank on the right in FIG. 11, the overhang extends laterally outward from an upper region of the plank. A similarly-configured core 10, on the left in FIG. 11, is oriented so the overhang 70 extends laterally outward from the lower region of the plank and arranged such that the overhangs 70 of each plank overlap to form a lap joint. Although the overhangs 70 in FIG. 11 extend from the upper or lower region of the plank, depending on the plank's orientation, other embodiments can utilize a tongue and groove configuration. For such embodiments, the tongue extending along one lateral side of the plank is adapted to be received in a trough formed in the opposite lateral side of an adjacent plank, again ensuring proper alignment of the adjacent planks.

Another embodiment of the alignment feature provided to plank-shaped cores 10 is shown in FIG. 12 as a keyed joint. As shown, each plank includes a protrusion 72 from an upward-facing major surface 74 and a similarly-located recess 76 (shown using hidden lines) formed in a downward-facing major surface 78. Planks placed on top of each other can be properly aligned through cooperation of the protrusion 72 and the recess 74 formed in the overlaid plank.

Regardless of their physical shape, the resulting cores can have the following properties:

Densities as low as 20 lbs. per cubic foot and as high as 108 lbs. per cubic foot;

Thermal resistance with an R-value of 1.7 for a 1.66 inch thick plank;

Ballistic resistance—1.25 in. thick planks were shot with a .22-cal. Bullet at a range of 6″. The projectile entered the core of rice hull composition shaped as a plank, but did not exit the plank.

In addition to the moisture resistance, the construction panels described herein also exhibit desirable mechanical characteristics and durability. For example, the experimental results outlined below reflect the tear strength of various samples.

Experimental I

TABLE 1 Tear Strength of Example 1 Thickness (in.) Tear Strength (lbs/in.) 1 0.197 202.073 2 0.197 160.501 3 0.185 247.145 4 0.205 273.378 5 0.197 300.203 Mean 0.196 236.660 Standard Deviation (SD) 0.007 55.885 Mean + 2SD 0.210 348.429 Mean − 2SD 0.182 124.890

Experimental II

TABLE 2 Tear Strength of Example 2 Thickness (in.) Tear Strength (lbs/in.) 1 0.207 498.902 2 0.207 184.732 3 0.039 2000.148 4 0.197 272.502 5 0.181 236.804 Mean 0.166 638.618 Standard Deviation (SD) 0.072 770.518 Mean + 2SD 0.309 2179.654 Mean − 2SD 0.023 −902.419

Experimental III

TABLE 3 Tear Strength of Example 3 Thickness (in.) Tear Strength (lbs/in.) 1 0.039 609.885 2 0.177 58.854 3 0.197 138.578 4 0.197 160.870 5 0.177 109.288 Mean 0.157 215.495 Standard Deviation (SD) 0.067 223.752 Mean + 2SD 0.291 662.999 Mean − 2SD 0.024 −232.009

Experimental IV

TABLE 4 Tear Strength of Example 4 Thickness (in.) Tear Strength (lbs/in.) 1 0.197 184.728 2 0.197 149.045 3 0.217 434.020 4 0.197 384.482 5 0.217 514.219 Mean 0.205 333.299 Standard Deviation (SD) 0.011 159.311 Mean + 2SD 0.226 651.920 Mean − 2SD 0.183 14.678

Experimental V

TABLE 5 Tear Strength of Example 5 Thickness (in.) Tear Strength (lbs/in.) 1 0.201 928.718 2 0.205 1174.824 3 0.197 508.455 4 0.197 752.462 5 0.187 536.348 Mean 0.197 780.161 Standard Deviation (SD) 0.007 279.224 Mean + 2SD 0.210 1338.609 Mean − 2SD 0.184 221.713

Experimental VI

TABLE 6 Tear Strength of Example 6 Thickness (in.) Tear Strength (lbs/in.) 1 0.226 944.090 2 0.226 570.524 3 0.197 397.608 4 0.205 235.871 5 0.205 402.784 Mean 0.212 510.176 Standard Deviation (SD) 0.014 269.894 Mean + 2SD 0.239 1049.963 Mean − 2SD 0.184 −29.612

Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A structure comprising: a core comprising a rice hull composition formed from a combination of separate unground rice hulls, ground rice hulls and a rice hull powder, wherein the separated unground rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder each comprises a different particle size; and a polymeric binder that binds the separated unground rice hulls, the ground rice hulls and the rice hull powder together, wherein the polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, fiber-reinforced plastic, and combinations thereof.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder comprises recycled material.
 3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the polymeric binder comprises a recycled material selected from the group consisting of recycled polyethylene, recycled high density polyethylene, recycled low density polyethylene, recycled polypropylene and combinations thereof.
 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein the structure has an average thickness of from about ⅛ of an inch to about 3 inches.
 5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the average thickness is about 7/16 of an inch.
 6. The structure of claim 1, the rice hull powder comprising an average particle size of 16/80 mesh.
 7. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a coloring agent distributed throughout the rice hull composition.
 8. The structure of claim 1 further comprising crumb rubber having an average particle size of approximately four one-thousandths (0.004 in.) of an inch or less combined with the rice hull composition.
 9. The structure of claim 1 further comprising an externally-exposed surface comprising at least one of: a re-enforced polyethylene terephthalate; a substantially-transparent polyurethane coating; and a waterborne acrylic urethane material.
 10. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a re-enforcing structure embedded within rice hull composition of the core.
 11. The structure of claim 1, wherein the core comprises a plurality of joined segments, and each of the joined segments comprises the core comprising the rice hull composition.
 12. The structure of claim 1, wherein the core comprises network of air-filled voids.
 13. The structure of claim 12, wherein each of the air-filled voids is open to an ambient environment.
 14. The structure of claim 13, wherein the core comprises and end region, and an externally-exposed surface of the core comprises an alignment feature arranged adjacent to a terminal edge of the core, the alignment feature being cooperable with an alignment feature provided to an abutting core arranged adjacent to the core as part of an assembly.
 15. The structure of claim 1, wherein the process for manufacturing the structure comprises the steps of: combining the separated rice hulls, ground rice hulls, the rice hull powder, and the polymeric binder in a dry mixer to form a rice hull composition; introducing the rice hull composition to an extruder to form a rice hull extrudate, wherein the extruder is pre-heated to a temperature of from about 270° F. to about 450° F.; molding the extrudate to a desired shape and cooling the desired shape to obtain the structure. 